Reviews

Extreme Amount of Slapstick and Dumbness Go Hand in Hand

Congrats My Ex! is a Thai comedy film starring Bella Ranee, Bright Vachirawit, Mahir Pandhi and Anahita Bhooshan in lead roles. It is about Risa, a wedding planner who has to plan an extravagant wedding of Arun, her Indian ex-boyfriend, to his fiancée Monica and accommodate their extremely large respective families, all for the money. To make things worse, she has to hire her jack-of-all-trades younger ex Tim to be their wedding photographer under certain circumstances, leading to chaotic and comical events.

The start of it was a chaotic mess, but in a good way. I enjoyed the first half of it a lot, especially when Risa’s friends embarrass her with the story of her and Arun’s past, which they did it in a musical, that was enjoyable since I am a music person, and when Risa went to meet Tim, while he was doing a magic show and the chase sequence followed by them arguing was hilarious. The other things I liked about it was that the depiction of Indian wedding was a lot on point, and Coolforthesummer already mentioned it so I’d suggest you read their review first for better insight, but I also liked the Sangeet the mot, because I loved how “Bollywood” it was and that all of the four actors mentioned danced to a Hindi song. I also liked the chemistry between Bright and Bella, much more than that of Bella and Mahir. I liked it when they were in conflict because it was the most fun out of the movie (plus when Tim couldn’t swim in shallow water, it had me in splits). I somehow find it refreshing that they incorporate a lot of Bollywoodness in another movie though I’m not the biggest fan of Bollywood musicals. In short, the depiction of Indo-Thai culture was nice, because a lot of it didn’t feel real, and I’ll get to that. The settings and location was very pretty, as well as the costumes (I can’t stop gushing over how good Bright and Bella look in Indian cloths in the Sangeet part).

This is my first-time seeing Bella Ranee’s work, and she did well in her job. She and Bright made me laugh. Mahir Pandhi was decent, though I didn’t like his character at all, and his line delivery seemed forced. Anahita Bhooshan was actually good.

Now to what I disliked about this movie. The second half of it got on my nerves, and I only endured it for Bright, not only because I like him, but also his character is the most tolerable out of all the characters on this movie. I hated how the part that Monica knew that Risa was Arun’s ex and that Arun is still in love with her was dealt with, and when Arun was about to have a moment with Risa in the climax, and I really felt sorry for Monica at that time. They could’ve kept the basic plot with Arun being open about Risa being his ex and having conflicts about it prior going to Thailand to get married. Or if this was dealt with better.

Risa also annoyed me to an extent. This character lacks maturity as a full-grown woman. However, out of all the characters, Arun annoyed me the most. God, whenever I see him confused/still in love with Risa, I was like, “Indian men, Indian men”, yeah!! Like please make a clear decision, and also what’s there to hide about the fact that Risa was his ex to his fiancée? Why did you even choose to marry her and at the same time have a moment with Risa, a day before the wedding? This is beyond my comprehension, and I actually felt sorry for Monica in the end. But it was dealt with poorly, when Monica chose to marry him anyways! They wouldn’t even last a month of divorce was seen on a more positive light and if anyone stopped caring about “log kya kahenge?” (What will people say?). Another thing I want to point out is that when Arun’s dad had a heart attack, why did Tim do the CPR himself instead of calling the ambulance?

The English dialogues made me cringe. It was written in a really cheesy way that no one would be convinced by that kind of speech, especially Arun’s monologues and all! And also, it makes sense for young generation urban Indians to speak English to each other but I didn’t understand why the older generation Indian characters in this movie spoke English? As an Indian myself, I observed that older-generation Indians would speak to each other in Hindi, unless if they’re from different states or so. But in this movie, all of them are families, and even Arun’s parents are speaking to each other in English in private. That robs the authenticity of the portrayal of a different culture. Although the Hindu/Indian culture was depicted well, I wish a native Hindi-speaking scriptwriter wrote the dialogues spoken by the Indian characters, because the characters seem to come from North India if I’m not mistaken.

Overall, it was a fun watch, with a lot comedy and all, but the story was really dumb in the end, though I’m glad Risa and Tim actually got together in the end because Bella and Bright indeed have chemistry. But it got straight-up dumb in the end combined with slapstick comedy. It isn’t completely unwatchable, but the only way to watch and tolerate this movie is 1. Turn off your brain and enjoy the ride and 2. Only focus on Bright.

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Impressive level of blandness.

There isn’t anything wrong with the drama, but there is nothing truly right? No highs, no lows, nothing to truly grab my attention. Such a smooth flight, one might actually fall asleep.

I loved the idea behind the drama - seeing different professions that are related to airports. Usually we see the “glamorous lives” of flight attendants and pilots, but here we saw a greeted variety of jobs. So how come it did not work out?

I think the biggest issue was how all the issues and conflicts got resolved within five minutes of screen time. There was no suspense, no stakes. What’s more, while I understand they wanted to stay true to reality, sometimes cutting short the realistic depiction of procedures is not a bad thing - at the end of the day I am watching a drama, not a manual.

I did like all the characters, but I also disliked how most of them did not need any character development. They were smart, great, kind, and the “bad traits” were simply miscommunication. Nothing to work on. And because of that Kawahara Kasumi became my favorite character - she was the most dynamic in writing - both in external presentation and internal growth.

The production was fine. As most things in the drama. But fine is such a mid level of entertainment.

One thing to appreciate was for sure the acting. The whole cast did an amazing job.

Overall, I will probably forget this drama exists in a month.

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Writer with dementia or indecisiveness?

Have to be last resort to finish this drama. Storyline has 2 arcs with no continuity. Song arc had an interesting beginning but finished with a vague ending. The FL has twin characters as a cold princess dies replaced by assassin twin who is not as cold blooded but actually has compassion. In the Wei arc, FL becomes a weak childlike princess. The ML is a superb martial artist with high intelligence who was robbed of his memories that ended the Song arc. In the Wei arc, he plays a scumbag who seduced two women for their worth to his ambition. At the beginning he promises to marry one by proclaiming to her father that he would rather live an ordinary life with her than lose her to political power; but later in the story out of nowhere, the two suddenly had a mutual agreement that the marriage was contractual and she broke it by falling in love with him (probably to make the ML less of a scumbag.) If that is so, scumbag consummated the contractual marriage by getting her pregnant. With other character discrepancies, it was difficult to convince myself to finish the story pretending it's two different dramas rather than one bad drama with 2 arcs and making excuses for some of the blind spots. The cast consists of many actors who now famous celebrities. This is what kept me going to episode 34. Most reviews are spot on so I am a bit wary about the ending and wonder if I want to go through the rest of the 20 or so episodes for another vague ending. Most likely not, so I marked it as dropped.

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Short yet efficient !

Short yet incredibly lovely cute. Also the themes that got discussed eventho they were serious they managed to make it in a very understanding manner. I've learned many things ffrom this series : Love yourself as you are etc...

All the characters were correctly indepthed eventho the episodes length was quite short. At first I absolutely hated Yu-mi then I got to start liking her. Min-jae is the character I hate and will continue to. I don't know even afterwards he seemed fake and off to FL.

The other characters are just chief kiss.

The OST were on point and just purely lovely. The cast is very good. Btw the actor playing seon-ho REALLY looks like Eun-woo especially when he smiles 😭💗.

For those who want to check it out it's on Youtube !

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Truly stands out from the rest!

What caught my attention is the trauma cleaning job. At 1st, I thought it's a "made-up" job, only to find out it's real. That fascinates me even more

Thanks to this show, I get to learn about such a profound and meaningful job that's often overlooked. In this show, the trauma cleaners really did amazing job in uncovering the story of the deceased, and making sure any messages are passed on to loved ones.

What makes this show even more interesting is that the ML also happen to have Asperger, hence opening up a new dimension of learning for us to understand more about people with Asperger, how they behave and why they act a certain way.

Combination of Asperger + Trauma Cleaning makes thsi show stand out.

I cried so much in this show that I feel it helped me process and heal the grief that I had myself.

This is one of the best show Lee Jee Hoon is in as well. His character adds more flavor and excitement to this show too.

Overall, this has great storyline, execution, messages, lessons and acting! Highly recommended

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An unexpected kick-ass duo!

Initially here for Lee Jee Hoon, but ended up finding a gem in the K-world! I can't believe we don't find such good movie anymore. This is really meaningful, inspiring and touching all at same time

It's been years since I watched this and here I am- still remembering the details, that's how much impact the movie has made

It really has an amazing plot twist towards the end, which left me crying and having respect towards the grandma who seemed to be irritating at the beginning of the show

It shows us that sometimes, when we dig a little more, there's more than meets the eye, if we are willing to be open to listen, and understand one another, like Jee Hoon's characteer did here

It really is a show that has potential to touch heart and uplift humanity

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Not all lives are equal

As you can guess, the seven times were in seven lives, although there was a double counting. In one of the lives, they retained their memories and knew each other. Still, you watched seven stories, each different. And all the stories were interesting.

Xiang Yun was a cloud which became a fairy with the help of the Marriage Pavillion Master. She was tasked to find a marriage partner for the God of War Chu Kong, but instead she was chosen to become his partner for tribulation, against her will.

The God of War had his primordial spirit damaged as he fought the demonic Cang Hai 30,000 years ago. A heavenly prophesy said that Cang Hai was going to be resurrected soon. It was therefore dire that the God of War repaired his spirit asap to fight the powerful demon monarch. The only way for him to repair it was to reincarnate several times in tribulation. Each tribulation would be successful if the partner would sacrifice herself for him in the reincarnation.

What I like about this drama?

1. Each life was an interesting story. The first reincarnation was funny and three were tragedies. So you would experience a range of diverse emotions.

2. Overall, the drama scored well on the hygiene factors. The cast performed well. The costumes were lovely and the CGI was beautiful. The music was pretty good too.

3. Ding Yu Xi looked his best as the cat demon with his heavy fur coat. But period drama hairdos did not suit him and he did not look good in them. While as the cat demon, his hairdo suited him best.

What I do not like about this drama?

1. The theme of loving someone over a several lifetimes has become quite cliche beginning with Ten Mile of Peach Blossom (3 lifetimes), Love and Redemption (10 lifetimes), Love and Destiny (over 2 lifetimes) and more if I care to check out.

2. The chemistry between the male and female leads was a little lacklustre. So it did not quite bring out the romantic feeling.

3. While all the stories in this drama were interesting, the story when their fate began was a yawn as the drama dwelled on a lot of trivials. The director was trying to create these lovey-dovey moments when their romance began and their lives became intertwined into the future. But it ended up becoming quite boring. Somehow the two leads did not have the chemistry to pull this off .

Overall, this drama is entertaining and worth watching. However, I won't rate it among the highest league.

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"NO excuses" policy

I love how this is inspired by true sports event. It's very touching to watch how the athletes are pursuing their dreams regardless of the harsh circumstances

What I love the most is how they show us what it means by "No excuses" policy. Instead of using lack of resources as excuse, they get really creative in how they train by utilising simple daily tools. It's fascinating to watch how they train, even though. I've no sports background or whatsnot

It's very inspiring and heartwarming, and I love how everything turned out in the end.

It's one of the best K-drama I've watched. I'm glad I watch this despite it being and old show, which I sometimes tend to skip

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a wuxia drama that EVERYONE HAS TO WATCH

You know that feeling after completing a show and one of your first thoughts are "Wow, it'll take a long time to find a drama like this again."? This was what I felt after watching MLC.

As someone who loves whodunit shows, I liked how they incorporated about 8-10 different mysteries in these 39 episodes while linking all of them for the overall story. The chemistry between the 3 male leads were also great and their personalities were all so extremely different but ironically complemented each other well. The pacing of the story was also to my liking. I can't exactly point out how and why, but it reminded me of the drama "the Untamed" - the vibes at least. The story continuously moves, so there's no filler episodes and the drama had me SEATED. I think what made me rate this drama a 10 instead of a 9.5 was the final plot twists in the last few episodes which had me gasping.

Overall, this drama is easy to watch and very suitable for wuxia and bromance shows lovers to watch!
p.s. the women in this drama are all SOOOO GORGEOUS

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The stories of five men who live their destinies in society, but something bothers them ... that their orientation is a minority. I'm horrified to see an absolutely terrible rating on IMDb, where a bunch of homophobes must have met. I tend to lean towards MDL with the rating. The film struck me as very open, civil, different from what I am used to with Pinoy productions. I was very interested (and I am surprised) by the character of Gorgeous played by John Lapus. The English subtitles were sometimes a bit confusing and sometimes missing.

Příběhy pěti mužů, kteří žijí své osudy ve společnosti, ale něco jim to stěžuje ... to, že jejich orientace je minoritní. Se zděšením vidím naprosto příšerné hodnocení na IMDb, kde se asi potkala banda homofobů. S hodnocením se spíše přikláním k MDL. Film na mě zapůsobil hodně otevřeně, civilně, jinak, než jsem zvyklý u pinoy produkce. Hodně mě zaujala (a to se divím), postava Gorgeouse v podání Johna Lapuse. Anglické titulky byly někdy trochu zmatečné a někdy i chyběly.

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Cherish the ONE life you got

Damn, this drama was so good. It held me on the edge of my seat constantly, and it delivered. The ending was just a chef's kiss. Everyone should give it a watch and understand how much their absence will affect others. The acting was great, and so many actors made it a masterpiece. As Ah in Jeong said, every good story has a lot of twists, and so does Death Game. 8 episodes, and every episode is a masterpiece in itself. I am probably praising it a lot because of recency bias but I recommend this to every human. Just stay quiet and watch this masterpiece without any second thought.

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THIS DRAMA IS COPIED FROM LADY VENGEANCE

SEXUAL HARRASMENT OF FL IN LAST EPISODE
It wasn't on Script
HAN SO HEE wasn't even informed but director assume that she would do it because she is that kind of woman FOR them, because she has done proactive roles.
Director and ML just wanted to see her topless that's all.

Giho takes forever to die and did not die even after that many stabs, i find this 5ft guy more stonger then THE UNDERTAKER of WWE

ML has selective hearing ability during the fight with rapist guy he only hear whatever favours FL and miss everything that reveals her identity why because he wanted to screw her in the end...

ML Was introduced as asshole who look down on women but suddenly there is his dead sister
He was acting like he was born out of a man's anus
But because he is ML we need to ignore him looking down on FL
FL Is good fighter when it come to fight anyone but she is weak and lose everytime she confront ML why because director wanted to protect MLs cheap Pride that he can't be defeated by a woman he look down on.

MDL high rating Is 🐂 shit
FL why she is taking revenge for a father who never tell her his own name ?
A man who make her live like a criminal her whole life and Destroyed her youth, she spent her another 5 year between criminal to take revenge for that guy ?
It was story of FL but director can't resist himself from sucking to ML

Nobody feel a shit when he got a hole in his head

Why rapist guy left FL to die with ML
I would have kept her with me to rape anytime i want or shoot her in head, if i am that pscho.
Why he don't rape her after he catch her because ML wasn't ready to protect her that time so villian did not thought of raping her... How good is bad guy

Mujin could have shoot both of them but he choose to shoot only ML because dude is poor to afford another bullet, he wanted to provoke FL for final fight which he wasn't able to fight because all he wanted was to die

I give it 6.5 because it was good when you watch it for first time you will believe everything the told you but if you rewatch it then half of things would look NONsense

Mujin Was framed for a murder that was done by FL and nobody no soul objected like whole police department was ON IT.
FL wasn't even question after murder why she shoot ?
It like there is nobody above GOD GIHO(ultimate Ninja)

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No teenage boys with lids up to their eyes or yaoi flip flops screaming in admiration. This is a short series for adults, from life, and it is well done, at least for me. Bisexuality, bisexual behavior and related problems. I really, really liked the series because it touches so many of us. Specifically me for sure. Excellent acting, especially Tod played it so convincingly, I believed every word he said and his character clearly proved that not all gays, bisexuals, have to be outright twisted or immediately recognizable. The other two characters also played it flawlessly. How 35-year-old Tony at the time (he played the character of Meng) and I was amazed how great he looked in the first part in the "studio" days, you don't know at all that he is already "so" old and the corpse Nuch, played excellently by Thai Bebe, is also no more sapling, and in some scenes it not only cut her off immensely (see e.g. the wedding and others). The director is really a fighter, everything we have from him here at gaytitulky.info is highly rated (Club Friday 5, Club Friday 12, Tonhon Chonlatee)


Žádní náctiletí kloučci s poklicemi afin až do očí či obdivem ječící yaoi žabky. Toto je krátký seriál pro dospěláky, ze života a je skvěle udělaný, alespoň pro mě. Bisexualita, bisexuální chování a problémy s tím spojené. Seriál se mi moc a moc líbil, protože se dotýká mnohých z nás. Konkrétně mě určitě. Výborné herecké výkony, především Tod to zahrál tak přesvědčivě, věřil jsem mu každé slovo a jeho postava jasně dokázala, že ne všichni gayové, bisexuálové, musí být vyloženě vykroucení nebo aby to na nich bylo hned poznat. I další dvě postavy to zahrály bezvadně. Jak tehdy pětatřicetiletý Tony (hrál postavu Menga) a byl jsem v úžasu, jak skvěle vypadal v prvním díle v dobách "studií", vůbec nepoznáte, že už má "tolik" let a mrška Nuch, kterou zahrála výborně Thajka Bebe, také už žádná mladice a v některých scénách to nejen jí nesmírně seklo (viz např. svatba a další). Režisér je opravdu borec, co tady na GT od něj máme, je vše výborně hodnocené (Club Friday 5, Club Friday 12, Tonhon Chonlatee)

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A decent watch but not my type of genre

The story deals with our leads’ personal problems within the paradigm of social norm. The ‘conflict’ of this show surprised me as I had no idea that getting a divorce or dating someone with a child is such a taboo in Korean culture as it's not negative in my reality...  

What I like most are the authentic cinematography and the well-written dialogues among the characters. The romance is very calm, lovely and honest. Despite the lack of spicy passion, Jung Hae In and Han Ji Min create a harmonious and good chemistry. I also enjoyed the bond and communication among the three sisters; Their arcs feel organic. The ending is done in a proper way.

Confession, there are times that I got so bored due to how slow and mellow this story is. I also struggled to finish it because "No Direction" plays on repeat. The OST is good but extremely overused that it gets tiresome. I would appreciate a little more variety or less repetition.

-Jan 2024, Yovita
Find me on Instagram: @kdramajudge

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